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Temptations

Salmon Flavor

Evidence Limited
dry

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Temptations Salmon Flavor is a dry food that uses chicken by-product meal as its primary protein source.

The formula does include quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber. However, given the overall low score, there isn't much else to highlight as a positive for this product.

The score is capped because there's no AAFCO statement, meaning nutritional completeness isn't guaranteed. Also, chicken by-product meal provides limited bioavailable amino acids, and there's no declared omega-3 source.

Hard to recommend for any dog, especially given the lack of an AAFCO statement and low protein quality.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken by-product meal anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus added taurine at position 12. In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022  (FDA, 2022) .

Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.

Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.

Research informing this analysis

Methodology

The Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.

  • FDA, 2022
    cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
  • FDA, 2019
    diet composition· cited in 2 claims
  • NRC, 2006
    nutrient bioavailability

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

Below-average grade. 34/100 (D) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Carbohydrate quality did the heavy lifting (+12 points): Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber. What capped it: the score can't exceed 59 because the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement isn't disclosed on the retailer page (so our methodology can't verify the formula meets adult, growth, or all-life-stages standards). Removing the cap alone wouldn't change the band. Protein quality is the deeper issue.

What lifted the score

Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.

CQI
What pulled it down

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

Low protein quality. chicken by-product meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.

PQI

No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.

FQI
What sets this apart
  • Lowest fat quality in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (2/16)
  • Bottom 10% for overall Sniff Score in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (34/100)
  • Bottom quartile for protein quality in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (7.1/27)

Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.

Similar dog foods worth considering

Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
Blue Buffalo True Solutions Skin & Coat Natural Salmon Adult Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag
Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo True Solutions Skin & Coat Natural Salmon Adult Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag

72

Scores 38 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Worth a look
Different brand, different protein
Jinx Salmon, Sweet Potato & Carrot ALS Kibble Dog Dry Food, 23.5-lb bag
Jinx

Jinx Salmon, Sweet Potato & Carrot ALS Kibble Dog Dry Food, 23.5-lb bag

66

Salmon instead of chicken, 32 points higher, different brand.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Guaranteed analysis
Protein
n/a
min (as fed)
Fat
n/a
min (as fed)
Fiber
n/a
max (as fed)
Moisture
n/a
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

35 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    chicken by-product meal

    Ground organs, bone, and tissue. Nutritionally dense, especially the liver and gizzard fractions. Named species ('chicken') is what matters. Generic 'poultry by-product meal' is the one to worry about. See why →

    Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.

  2. 2
    ground corn animal fat

    Position 2: major carbohydrate source.

  3. 3
    wheat flour

    Refined wheat, usually used as a binder. Cheap, not harmful, not a nutrition contributor.

    Position 3: major carbohydrate source.

  4. 4
    brewers rice

    Broken rice kernels left over from milling, usually destined for human beer-making. Cheaper than whole or even white rice. Same carbs, less nutrition than the brown version. See why →

    Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.

  5. 5
    dried meat by-products

    Unnamed organ meats and tissue. Could be nutritious, but no species is listed, so quality varies by batch.

  6. 6
    natural flavors

    Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.

  7. 7
    brewers dried yeast

    Yeast left over from brewing. Rich in B vitamins and amino acids. A traditional and well-tolerated inclusion.

  8. 8
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  9. 9
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  10. 10
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  11. 11
    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

  12. 12
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

  13. 13
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  14. 14
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  15. 15
    zinc sulfate

    Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.

  16. 16
    natural salmon flavor
  17. 17
    red #40
  18. 18
    ferrous sulfate

    Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.

  19. 19
    mixed tocopherols

    Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →

  20. 20
    dried cheese
  21. 21
    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

  22. 22
    vitamin a supplement

    Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.

  23. 23
    citric acid

    Natural antioxidant preservative. Helps keep fats from going rancid.

  24. 24
    niacin supplement

    B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.

  25. 25
    vitamin b12 supplement

    Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.

Showing first 25 of 35. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

21 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.